43 percent respondents want Modi as PM: RSS survey

New Delhi: Taking a cue from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has put all its resources into application for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya has conducted a nationwide survey to find out the country’s mood.

BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has emerged as the nation’s top choice in the survey, which was carried out on 300 seats. 43 percent of the total respondents wanted Modi as PM.

According to the survey, youth, elders, women from urban and rural areas showed their thumbs up to Modi. However, this survey can’t be considered as an indicator or estimation of votes for the saffron party.

The RSS, in its survey, has also tried to find out what younger generation of this nation aspires for. In most of the areas, the people said that issues like better job opportunities, improvement in electricity supply, drinking water, good roads and improved healthcare are some of the major subjects related to elections.

In the latest survey report published in Panchjanya and Organiser, North India, from which the lion’s share in Lok Sabha with 162 seats is heavily tilted towards Modi. 48.6 percent of the total respondents of this region want to see Modi as the next PM. On the contrary, only 27 percent wished to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as the nation’s next PM.

Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are some of the most politically crucial states in North India. Though the BJP could secure only 34 percent votes in the 2009 elections, this time, the saffron outfit expecting to see a surge in its tally.

The only region where Rahul Gandhi seemed to be in command over Modi is South India. 35.8 percent of the total respondents of the region, which sends 132 members to the Lower House of Parliament, want to see Rahul as the next PM. Modi finishes narrowly behind the Gandhi scion with 33.3 percent votes, according to the survey.

BJP could bag only 20 seats collectively in the region which comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil in 2009 general elections and Congress got whooping 83 seats.

In Central India, which includes the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, 45.4 percent of the total respondents are in favour of Modi and 29 percent in Rahul’s. Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has also got 14.3 percent votes in the region, according to the survey.

Modi is getting maximum support from West Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. 57 percent of the overall respondents want Modi at the helm and only 24.4 percent are inclined towards Rahul.

In a similar fashion, Modi has built a lead around his opponents in East India as well, says the survey. 34.3 percent of the total respondents want Modi to lead the country, while only 31.1 percent are in favour of Rahul Gandhi.